The process of decreasing
of ice volume of a glacier. Synonym wastage.

abrasion

abraze

The grinding away of a
rock by friction and impact during transportation.

absolute age

absolutní stáří

Age given in years or some
other unit of time (mostly in million of years).

abyssal fan

abysální dejekční
kužel

Great fan-shaped deposit
of sediment on the deep-sea floor at the base of many
submarine canyons.

abyssal plain

abysální rovina

Very flat sediment-covered
region of the deep-sea floor, usually at the base of the
continental rise.

accessory minerals

akcesorické minerály

Rock-forming minerals
which occur in a rock in a very small amount (several
percents of mineral content) and which have no effect to
classification of a rock.

acid rocks

kyselé vyvřelé horniny

Igneous rocks with high
amount of silica. They are macroscopically recognizable
by high percentage of quartz, K-feldspars and/or acidic
plagioclases.

advancing glacier

postupující ledovec
(rostoucí)

Glacier with a positive
budget, so that accumulation results in the lower edges
being pushed outward and downward.

aftershock

Small earthquake that
follows a main shock.

albite

albit

Kind of plagioclase
(acidic) within the feldspar group with formula
NaAlSi3O8. Its colour is light grey to grey. Other
properties see feldspars.

aleurites

aleurity

Clastic sediments or
sedimentary rocks with size of particles between
0,002-0,063 mm.

allothigenous minerals

Minerals, which were
transported from other place into a newly formed
sediment. These minerals are highly resistent to
weathering processes.

allotriomorphic minerals

alotriomorfně omezené
minerály

Minerals of igneous rocks
which crystallize as latest in a process of magma
crystallization. It results in a shape of these minerals,
which are forced to crystallize in a space created by
formerly crystallized sorrounding minerals.

alluvial deposits

aluviální sedimenty

General term for clastic
sedimentary rocks with no cohesion, which have been
transported and deposited by a stream.

alluvial fan

aluviální kužel
(dejekční)

Large fan-shaped pile of
sediment that usually forms where stream´s velocity
decreases as it emerges from a narrow canyon onto a flat
plain at the foot of a mountain range.

alpine glaciation

alpínské zalednění

Glaciation of a
mountainous area.

amorphous substance

amorfní látka

Substance where atoms are
not ordered in crystal lattice.

amphibole

amfibol

Ferromagnesian mafic
mineral which belongs to silicates. Properties: black in
colour, cleavaged, cleavage planes are stepped rather
than smooth, splintery appearance, columnar, hardness is
from 5 to 6, vitreous or silk luster.

Type of structure of
igneous rocks, which is typical for its "almond
shaped" pores secondary filled with material. This
structure is formed after porous structure.

andesite

andezit

Fine-grained igneous rock
of intermediate composition. Up to half of the rock is
plagioclase feldspar with the rest being ferromagnesian
minerals. It is often porphyritic.

angular

ostrohranný

Sharp-edged; lacking
rounded edges or corners.

anhydrite

anhydrit

Anhydrite is a relatively
common sedimentary mineral that forms massive rock
layers. Anhydrite does not form directly, but is the
result of the dewatering of the rock forming mineral
Gypsum (CaSO4-2H2O). Color is ordinarily white, gray or
colorless but also blue to violet. Luster is
vitreous.Crystal habits include the tabular, rectangular
box often elongated in one direction forming a prismatic
crystal. Most commonly massive and granular. Cleavage is
in three directions forming rectangles, but perfect in
one, very good in another and only marginally good in the
third direction. Hardness is 3.5.

anorthite

anortit

Mineral which belongs to
plagioclase feldspar group with formula CaAl2Si2O8. Grey
to dark grey in colour, other properties see feldspars.

anticline

antiklinála

An arched fold in which
the rock layers usually dip away from the axis of the
fold.

The oldest period in
paleozoic, which took place 570-500 million of years ago.

canyon

kaňon

A long, deep valley with
steep slopes, which was formed as a result of water
stream erosion.

carbonates

karbonáty

A group of minerals, which
have in their formulas CO3 anions. Properties of
individual members of this group are very similar to
calcite.

Carboniferous

karbon

A period in paleozoic
(285-350 million of years ago), in which great amount of
coal was formed.

cave

jeskyně

Naturally formed
underground chamber.

caving sediments

nezpevněné nesoudržné
sedimenty

Sedimentary rocks without
cohesion.

cement

pojivo

The solid material that
precipitates in the pore space of sediments, binding the
grains together into a hard rock.

cementation

zpevňování

The process of chemical
precipitation of material in the spaces between sediment
grains, binding the grains together into a hard rock.

Cenozoic

kenozoikum

Geological period from
Tertiary (65 million of years ago) to present.

cirque

kar

A steep-sided,
amphitheater-like hollow carved into a mountain at the
head of a glacial valley.

clastic sedimentary rocks

klastické sedimentární
horniny

A sedimentary rocks
composed of fragments of preexisting rocks, formed by
weathering, transportation and deposition.

clastic textures

klastické struktury

An arrangement of rock
fragments of different size of particles. This term can
be used only for sedimentary rocks.

clay

jíl

Sediment composed of
particles with diameter less than 0,002 mm.

clay minerals

jílové minerály

A hydrous-aluminium
silicates that occurs as a platy grains of microscopic
size with a sheet silicate structure (e.g. kaolinite,
montmorillonite, illite, glauconite).

clay shale

jílová břidlice

Pelitic sedimentary rock,
mostly laminated.

claystone

jílovec

Partly lithificated
pelitic sediment.

cleavage

štěpnost

The ability of a mineral
to break along preferred planes. It relates to inner
structure of a mineral.

cleveage plane

štěpná plocha

Plane along which mineral
with cleavage breaks.

cliff

útes

Steep, high rock on marine
coast, which arose by water erosion.

coal

uhlí

A sedimentary rock formed
by the consolidation of plant material. It is rich in
carbon, usually black, and burns readily.

coarse-grained rock

hrubě zrnitá hornina

Rock in which most of the
grains are from 3 to 10 mm in size.

cobble

valoun

A sediment particle with a
diameter of 64 to 256 mm.

coefficient of flatness

koeficient plochosti

Ratio between the longest
and the shortest axis of rock fragment.

columnar shape

sloupcovitý tvar

1. Shape formed by
jointing of some volcanic rocks - parallel, usually
vertical columns, mostly six-sided. 2. Habitus of some
minerals.

compact structure

kompaktní textura

Type of structure of
rocks, where there are no pores in a rock.

compaction

kompakce

A loss in overall volume
and pore space of a rock as a particles are packed closer
together by the weight of overlying material.

concordant

konkordantní

Parallel to layering or
earlier developed planar structures.

cone of depression

depresní kužel

A depression of the water
table formed around a well when water is pumped out; it
is shaped like an inverted cone.

confined aquifer

napjatá zvodeň

An aquifer completely
filled with pressurized water and separated from the land
surface by a relatively impermeable confining bed, such
as shale.

confining pressure

všesměrný tlak

Pressure applied equally
on all surfaces of a body; also called geostatic or
lithostatic pressure.

conglomerate

slepenec

A coarse-grained
sedimentary rock (grains coarser than 2 mm) formed by the
cementation of rounded gravel.

conchoidal fracture

lasturnatý lom

Type of fracture similar
to conch surface.

contact metamorphism

kontaktní metamorfóza

Metamorphism under
conditions in which high temperature is the dominant
factor.

contact schist

kontaktní břidlice

Metamorphic rock formed
usually on a contact between magma and sedimentary
pelitic rock.

contact-metamorphic rocks

kontaktně metamorfované
horniny

Metamorphic rocks formed
as a result of contact between magma and some rock. This
type of metamorphism is mostly thermal.

continental crust

kontinentální zemská
kůra

A part of the Earth´s
crust which forms continents. It´s thickness is from 25
km to 80 km, 38 km in average. The thickness of
continental crust and its structure varies according to
geological units. Young alpine mountain belts have
continental crust up to 80 km thick (Himalayas).

continental drift

kontinentální drift

A concept suggesting that
continents move over the earth´s surface.

continental glaciation

kontinentální
zalednění

The covering of a large
region of a continent by a sheet of glacial ice.

continental shelf

kontinentální šelf

A submarine platform at
the edge of a continent, inclined very gently seaward
generally at an angle of less than 1!. It is bordered by
continental slope.

continental slope

kontinentální svah

A relatively steep slope
extending from a depth of 100 to 200 meters at the edge
of the continental shelf down to oceanic depths.

convection

konvekční proudění

A very slow circulation of
a substance driven by differences in temperature and
density within that substance.

converging boundary

konvergentní rozhraní

Boundary between two
lithospheric plates that are moving toward each other.

coquina

organodetritický vápenec

A limestone consisting of
large shells.

coral reefs

korálové útesy

Organogenous rocks on
marine coast composed of coral skeletons.

core

zemské jádro

The central zone of the
earth. It´s radius is 3478 km.

correlation

korelace

Determining age
relationships between rock units or geologic events in
separate areas.

craton

kraton

Portion of a continent
that has been structurally stable for a prolonged period
of time.

creep

plouživý pohyb

Very slow, continuous
downslope movement of soil and rock.

Cretaceous

křída

The last period of
Mesozoic before Tertiary (136-65 millions of year ago).

crevasses

ledovcová trhlina

Open fissures in a
glacier.

cross bedding

křížové zvrstvení

An arrangement of
relatively thin layers of rock inclined at an angle to
the more nearly horizontal bedding planes of the larger
rock unit.

crust

zemská kůra

The outer layer of rock,
forming a thin skin over the earth´s surface.

crust fault

hlubinný zlom

Very deep fault (from
tenths to hundreds of kilometers) in the Earth´s crust,
which separates two litospheric plates.

crustal rebound

The rise of the earth´s
crust after the removal of glacial ice.

crystalline substance

krystalická hmota

Substance with specific
inner structure, which is called crystal lattice.

crystalline texture

krystalická struktura

An arrangement of
interlocking crystals.

Darcy´s law

Darcyho zákon

Formula, in which relation
between hydraulic gradient, hydraulic conductivity and
soak velocity is defined.

debris

suť

Any unconsolidated
material at the earth´s surface.

debris avalanche

bahnotok

A very rapidly moving,
turbulent mass of debris, air and water. This is the
fastest variety of debris flow.

deflation

deflace

The removal of clay, silt
and sand particles from the land surface by wind.

delta

delta

A body of sediment
deposited at the mouth of a river when the river velocity
decreases as it flows into a standing body of water.

denudation

denudace

General term for lowering
of the earth surface by processes such as erosion etc.

deposition

usazováni

The settling or coming to
rest of transported material.

depth of focus

hypocentrum zemětřesení

Distance between the focus
and the epicenter of an earthquake (perpendicular
distance between the focus and the Earth surface).

desert

poušť

A region with low
precipitation (usually defined as less than 25 cm per
year)

Devonian

devon

Period of Paleozoic
(between 395-345 million of years ago).

diabase

diabas

A rock of basaltic
composition, consisting essentially of labradorite and
pyroxene,and characterized by ophitic texture (discrete
crystals or grains of pyroxene fill the interstices
between lath-shaped feldspar crystals).

diamond

diamant

Mineral which is composed
of carbon, the hardest mineral on the Earth
(hardness=10). It was formed in conditions of high
pressure and temperature.

diatomite

diatomit

Organogenous sediment
composed mostly of very small silica shells (shells of
organisms called Diatomacea)

dike

pravá žíla

A tabular, discordant
intrusive structure.

diorite

diorit

Plutonic igneous rock of
intermediate composition. Up to half of the rock is
plagioclase feldspar and the rest is ferromagnesian
minerals.

dip

sklon

The angle that a
structural surface, e.g. a bedding or fault plane, makes
with a horizontal. See dip angle, direction of dip.

dip angle

úhel sklonu

A vertical angle measured
downward from the horizontal plane to an inclined plane.

dip-slip fault

A fault in which movement
is parallel to the dip of the fault surface.

direction of dip

směr sklonu

The compass direction in
which the angle of dip is measured.

disappearing stream

ponor

Surface stream, which
apparently disappears under ground and appears again on a
surface at different place. This type of stream is common
in area with limestones (karst).

discordant

diskordantní

Not parallel to any
layering or parallel planes.

diverging boundary

divergentní rozhraní

Boundary separating two
lithospheric plates moving away from each other.

dolomite

dolomit

1. Type of mineral with
formula (Ca,Mg)(CO3)2. It´s properties are very similar
to calcite, but it reacts slowly with dilute hydrochloric
acid unless powdered. 2. A sedimentary rock composed
mostly of the mineral dolomite.

Dolostone

dolomit

Synonym for dolomite.

downcutting

hloubková eroze

A valley-deepening process
caused by erosion of a stream bed.

drainage

odvodnění

Removal of water from some
area by system of channels, ditches or drainage wells.

drawdown

The lowering of the water
table near a pumped well.

drilling

vrtání

Making of a vertical round
shaped hole under the surface for different purpose - for
example obtain a underground water or to obtain some
information about geologic conditions.

drumlin

drumlin

A long, streamlined hill
made of till.

dry stream bed

vyschlé koryto řeky

Stream bed, which is
temporary without water.

dull luster

matný lesk

earthflow

sesuv

Slow-to- rapid mass
wasting in which debris moves downslope as a very viscous
fluid (See landslide).

earthquake

zemětřesení

A trembling or shaking of
the ground caused by the sudden release of energy stored
in the rocks beneath the surface.

The location in which
deposition occurs, usually marked by charakteristic
physical, chemical or biological conditions.

epicenter

epicentrum zemětřesení

The point on the earth´s
surface directly above the focus of an earthquake.

epidote

epidot

It occurs sometimes in
form of finely crystalline masses in joints of a rock,
rarely forms elongate crystals. Color is
"pistachio" green to yellowish or brownish
green, also brown to black. Hardness is more than 5,
cleavaged.

erlan

erlan

Contact metamorphic rock
consisting mainly of calcium silicates.

erosion

eroze

The physical removal of
rock by an agent such as running water, glacial ice, or
wind.

erratic

eratický balvan

An ice-transported boulder
that does not derive from bedrock near its present site.

esker

esker

A long, sinuous ridge of
sediment deposited by glacial meltwater.

essential minerals

hlavní (podstatné)
horninotvorné minerály

Rock forming minerals,
which form essential part of a rock. They are important
for classification of a rock.

evaporites

evapority

Sedimentary rocks that
form from crystals precipitating during evaporation of
water.

even-grained texture

stejnoměrně zrnitá
struktura

Type of texture of igneous
rocks, where minerals in a rock are not very different in
size (opposite term to porphyritic structure).

exfoliation

exfoliace

The stripping of
concentric rock scales to slabs from the outer surface of
a rock mass.

extrusive rocks

výlevné vyvřelé
horniny

Any igneous rocks that
form at the earth´s surface, whether it soldifies
directly from a lava flow or is pyroclastic.

fall

skalní řícení

The situation in mass
wasting that occurs when material free-falls or bounces
down a cliff. See rockfall.

fault

zlom

A fracture in bedrock
along which movement has taken place.

feldspars

živce

Group of most common
minerals of the earth´s crust. All feldspars contain
silicon, aluminium, and oxygen and may contain potassium,
calcium, and sodium. Pink, white to dark grey, rarely
green in colour. Hardness is around 6. Perfect cleavage,
vitreous luster when fresh, dull when weathered.
Attention: According to luster on cleavage planes are
feldspars very often confused with muscovite.

felsic rocks

světlé vyvřelé horniny

Silica rich igneous rocks
with silica content more then 65%.

fine-grained rocks

jemnozrnné horniny

A rocks (except clastic
sediments) in which most of the mineral grains are
between 0,33-0,01 mm in size.

fiord

fjord

A coastal inlet that is a
glacially carved valley, the base of which is submerged.

firn

firn

A compacted mass of
granular snow, transitional between snow and glacial ice.

fissured clays

potrhané jíly

Clays with a lot of small,
irregular fissures.

flexure

ohyb

Bending of beds (without
rupture) as a result of long lasting and slow tectonic
pressure.

flint

pazourek

A dense, fine-grained form
of silica which is very tough and breaks with a
conchoidal fracture and cutting edges. It occurs in
cretaceous cliffs.

flood erosion

Erosion caused by the high
velocity and large volume of water in a flood.

flood plain

inundační území

A broad strip of land
built up by sedimentation on either side of a stream
channel.

flow

tečení

A type of movement that
implies that a descending mass is moving downslope as a
viscous fluid.

fluidal structure

proudovitá textura

Structure of igneous
rocks, where rock particles have preferred direction in
orientation.

fluorite

fluorit

Mineral with formula CaF2.
It is a basic raw material for fluor and fourth member of
Moh´s scale. Purple, green, yellow in colour. Perfect
cleavage, vitreous luster.

focus

ohnisko zemětřesení
(hypocentrum)

The point within the earth
from which seismic waves originate in an earthquake.

foids

zástupci živců

Group of minerals formed
instead of feldspars within the process of magma
crystallization, when amount of SiO2 in magma is reduced.
Main members of this group are: leucite, nepheline,
analcime, sodalite, nosean, hauyne.

fold

vrása

Bend in layered bedrock of
sinusoidal shape.

foliation

foliace

Parallel alignment of
structural features of a rock.

foliation plane

foliační plocha

Plane with parallel
alignment to structural features of a rock.

fossiliferous limestone

organogenní vápenec

Limestone composed of
fossil shells or skeletons.

fossils

fosílie

Traces or fragments of
skeletons of plants or animals preserved in rock.

fracture

zlom

The way a substance breaks
where not controlled by cleavage.

fracture plane

lomná plocha

Curved plane formed by
fracture, often conchoidal.

fragments of rocks

úlomky hornin

Pieces of rock decoposed
by mechanical or chemical weathering.

fresh rock

nezvětralá hornina

Rock not affected by
weathering.

frost action

účinek mrazu

Mechanical weathering of
rock by expanzion of freezing water.

frost heaving

The lifting of rock or
soil by the expansion of freezing water.

frost wedging

A type of frost action in
which the expansion of freezing water pries a rock apart.

A single bed with coarse
grains at the bottom of the bed and progressively finer
grains toward the top of the bed.

graded bedding

gradační zvrstvení

An arrangement of layers
of clastic sediments and sedimentary rocks. Each layer
has different size of particles and granularity of layers
tends topward from coarse to fine.

granite

granit

A felsic, coarse-grained,
intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz,
feldspars and often containing micas. It belongs to group
of granitoids.

granite porphyr

žulový porfyr

Dike rock with composition
similar to granite. It differs only by a texture and
structure.

granitoids

granitoidy

A group of "granite
like rocks", which differs from each other only by
type of feldspar.

granoblastic texture

granoblastická struktura

Texture of metamorphic
rocks, which is characterized by "grain shaped"
minerals, e.g. marble.

granodiorite

granodiorit

Igneous plutonic rock
belonging to group of granitoids. It has composition
similar to granite except the ratio between types of
feldspar (plagioclases>K-feldspars).

granulite

granulit

High-grade metamorphic
rock, ligh-grey coloured. It is composed of quartz and
feldspars, mostly with presence of small garnet grains.

graphic texture

písmenková struktura

Special texture created by
intergrowth of feldspars and quartz, which looks like
hieroglyfic letters.

graphite

grafit

Mineral formed of carbon.
Gray to black in colour. Hardness is 1. It may have dull
luster, greasy feel, soils paper and fingers.

gravel

štěrk

Sediment composed of
rounded particles coarser than 2 mm in diameter.

greywacke

droba

A sandstone with more than
20% of unstable particles and feldspars within psammitic
fraction and more then 15% of finegrained matrix.

ground moraine

spodní (bazální)
moréna

A blanket of till
deposited under a glacier or released as glacier ice
melted.

groundmass

základní hmota

The material between the
phenocrysts in porphyritic igneous rock. It includes the
basis or base as well as the smaller crystals of the
rock. Essentially synonymous with matrix.

groundwater

podzemní voda

The water that lies
beneath the ground surface, filling the cracks, crevices,
and pore space of rocks.

gypsum

sádrovec

Mineral with formula
CaSO4. It is formed by evaporation. Clear, white, light
grey in colour. Hardness is 2. Vitreous to pearly luster,
brittle sheets. Perfect cleavage.

habit

habitus

Term describing shape of a
crystal (e.g. tabular, columnar).

halite

sůl kamenná

Mineral with formula NaCl.
It is formed by evaporation. Clear to grey in colour.
Hardness is 2.5. Perfect cleavage. Salty taste.

hanging valley

visuté údolí

A smaller valley that
terminates abruptly high above a main valley.

headward erosion

zpětná eroze

The lenghtening of a
valley in an uphill direction above its original source
by gullying, mass wasting, and sheet erosion.

hematite

hematit

(1) Mineral with formula
Fe2O3. Mostly fine grained, reddish brown in colour.
Hardness is 1.5 to 5.5, dull luster. It occurs in form of
earthy masses. It is product of chemical weathering
(oxidation). (2) Rarely with formula Fe3O4, steel grey to
dull red in colour. Hardness is 6. May be micaceous (tiny
flakes) or massive.

hemicrystalline rocks

hemikrystalické horniny

Volcanic rocks, which have
cooled very quickly. Part of rock mass is composed of
volcanic glass.

hinge line

osa vrásy

Line about which a fold
appears to be hinged. Line of maximum curvature of a
folded surface.

hinge plane

rovina vrásy

See axial plane.

holocrystalline rocks

holokrystalické horniny

Igneous rocks with fully
crystalized rock mass.

horizontal bedding

horizontální zvrstvení

Type of bedding, where
layers are oriented horizontally.

hornblende

obecný amfibol

Common amphibole
frequently found in igneous and metamorphic rocks.
Properties see amphibole.

hornfels

kontaktní rohovec

A fine-grained, unfoliated
metamorphic rock.

horst

hrásť

An up-raised block bounded
by normal faults.

hyaline texture

hyalinní struktura

Texture of volcanic rocks
or their groundmass, which is formed by amorphous
substance.

hydraulic conductivity

koeficient filtrace

Number characterizing
permeability of rocks.

hydraulic gradient

hydraulický gradient

The ratio between vertical
difference of heights of two water tables and their
horizontal distance.

hydrologic cycle

hydrologický cyklus

The movement of water and
water vapor to the atmosphere, to the land, and to the
atmosphere again.

hypidiomorphic minerals

hypidiomorfně omezené
minerály

Partly confined mineral
grains formed during crystallization of magma.

hypocenter

hypocentrum zemětřesení

Synonym for the focus of
an earthquake.

chalk

křída

A very fine-grained
bioclastic limestone, which often forms high white cliffs
on the coast.

A sedimentary rocks
composed of material precipitated directly from solution.

chemical weathering

chemické zvětrávání

The decomposition of rock
resulting from exposure to water and atmospheric gases.

chert

rohovec

A hard, compact,
fine-grained sedimentary rock formed almost entirely of
silica.

chlorite

chlorit

Mineral belonging to mica
group formed mostly during metamorphism. It can be also
formed by alteration processes. Green to blackish green
in colour. Dull to pearly luster. Hardness 2 to 2.5. May
have faint green-yellow streak. Crystal flakes are
flexible but not elastic. Finely crystalline aggregates
common.

ice cap

ledovcová čapka

A glacier covering a
relatively small area of land but not restricted to a
valley.

ice sheet

kontinentální ledovec

A glacier covering a large
area (more than 50 000 square kilometers) of land.

iceberg

ledovec

Block of glacier-derived
ice floating in water.

idiomorphic minerals

idiomorfně omezené
minerály

Completely confined
mineral grains formed during crystallization of magma.

igneous rocks

vyvřelé horniny

A rocks formed or
apparently formed from solidification of magma.

illite

illit

Non-swelling type of clay
mineral. Properties see clay minerals.

inner core

vnitřní jádro

The most inner part of the
Earth.

intermediate igneous rocks

intermediární vyvřelé
horniny

Igneous rocks with a
chemical content between felsic and mafic compositions.

intrusive bodies

intruzívní tělesa

Bodies formed by magma
crystallization under the earth surface.

intrusive rocks

intruzivní horniny

Rocks that appears to have
crystallized from magma emplaced in surrounding rock.

isoclinal fold

izoklinální vrása

A fold in which the limbs
are parallel to one another.

isostasy

izostáze

The balance or equilibrium
between adjacent blocks of crust resting on a plastic
mantle.

isostatic adjustment

izostatické vyrovnání

Concept of vertical
movement of sections of the earth´s crust to achieve
balance or equilibrium.

izometric shape

izometrický tvar

Term describing ball-like
shape of mineral grains.

joint

prasklina, trhlina

A fracture or crack in
bedrock along which essentially no displacement has
occured.

Jurassic

jura

A period in Mesozoic
(145-195 million of years ago).

K-feldspars

draselné živce

Subgroup of feldspars
containing potassium in the structure (KAlSi3O8).
Properties see feldspars.

kaolin

kaolin

Sediment composed mostly
of clay mineral kaolinite. It was formed as a residual
rock by processes of chemical weathering.

kaolinite

kaolinit

Non-swelling member of
clay mineral group. Properties see clay minerals.

karst

kras

An area formed mostly of
limestones with many sinkholes and a cave system beneath
the land surface, usually lacking a surface stream.

kinetic metamorphism

dislokační metamorfóza

Special type of
metamorphism caused by tectonic forces in a fold zone.

kyanite

kyanit

Mineral with formula
Al2SiO5 formed during metamorphism. Light blue to
greenish blue in colour, cleavaged. Hardness is 5
parallel to long direction of crystal and 7 across
crystal. It forms blade-shaped crystals and has vitreous
luster.

labradorite

labradorit

Member of plagioclase
subgroup with special optical effects (it reflects
daylight as blue in some slices). Properties see
feldspars.

lamination

laminace

The layering or bedding
less than 1 cm in thickness in a sediment or a
sedimentary rock.

landslide

sesuv

The general term for a
slowly to very rapidly descending rock or debris (see
earthflow).

lateral erosion

boční eroze

Erosion and undercutting
of stream banks caused by a stream swinging from side to
side across its valley floor.

lateral moraine

boční moréna

A low ridgelike pile of
till along a side of a glacier.

lava

láva

Magma on the earth's
surface. Fluid rock such as that which issues from a
volcano or a fissure in the earth's surface.

lava flow

lávový proud

Long, narrow stream of
lava flowing downhill from a volcano.

lava sheet

lávový příkrov

Wide-spreaded sheet of
lava covering large area around a volcano.

lepidoblastic texture

lepidoblastická struktura

Type of metamorphic
texture formed mostly of scaled minerals.

limb

rameno vrásy

Portion of a fold shared
by an anticline and a syncline.

limestone

vápenec

A sedimentary rock
composed mostly of calcite.

limonite

limonit

Limonite (Fe2O3.nH2O). is
a general name for several rust-like hydrous iron oxides.
It usually forms rust-like coatings on rocks.
Yellow-brown, orange-brown to dark brown in colour.

lithification

zpevňování (diageneze)

The consolidation of
sediment into sedimentary rock.

litosphere

litosféra

The rigid outer shell of
the earth, 70 to 125 or more kilometers thick.

local metamorphic rocks

lokálni metamorfované
horniny

Rocks produced by local
metamorphism.

local metamorphism

lokální metamorfóza

Metamorphism involving
relatively high temperature or pressure which affects
small area.

loess

spraš

A fine-grained deposit of
wind-blown dust containing CaCO3 often in the form of
"nodules".

loessloam

sprašová hlína

Eolic sediment formed by
leaching of CaCO3 from loess.

losing stream

Stream that loses water to
the zone of saturation.

lower mantle

spodní plášť

One of the inner shells of
the earth.

luster

lesk

The quality and intensity
of light reflected from the surface of a mineral.

A rock composed of
sand-sized grains of quartz that have been welded
together during metamorphism.

micas

slídy

Group of minerals
belonging to sheet-silicates with variable size of grains
and colour. Significant properties are: hardness 2.5,
perfect cleavage, glassy to pearl luster and elasticity
of scales.

mid-oceanic ridge

stoedooceánský hobet

A giant mountain range
that lies under the ocean and extends around the world.

migmatite

migmatit

Mixed igneous and
metamorphic rockwith typical migmatitic structures.

mineral

minerál

A naturally occuring,
inorganic, homogenous, crystalline or amorphous mostly
solid that has a definite chemical composition.

mineral content

minerální slo?ení

Term describing
composition of a rock.

mineral hardness

tvrdost minerálu

The relative easy or
difficulty with which a smooth surface of a mineral can
be scratched; commonly measured by Mohs' scale.

modified Mercali scale

modifikovaná Mercaliho
škála

Scale expressing
intensities of earthquakes (judged on amount of damage
done) in Roman numerals ranging from I to XII.

Moh´s scale of hardness

Mohrova stupnice tvrdosti

Scale on which ten
minerals are designated as standards of hardness.

Mohorovieie diskontinuity

Mohorovieieova
diskontinuita

The boundary separating
the crust from the mantle beneath it (also called Moho).

monomict

monomiktní

Within the psefitic,
clastic sedimentary rocks, formed from one type of
fragments.

montmorillonite

montmorillonit

Swelling type of clay
mineral. Properties see clay minerals.

moraine

moréna

A body of till either
being carried on a glacier or left behind after a glacier
has receded.

mud

bahno

Term loosely used for silt
and clay, usually wet.

mudcracks

bahenní praskliny

Polygonal cracks formed in
very fine-grained sediment as it dries.

mudflow

bahnotok

A flowing mixture of
debris and water, usually moving down a channel.

mudpot

bahenní sopka

Specific type of hot
spring that contains thick, boiling mud.

mudstone

slínovec

A fine-grained sedimentary
rock that lacks shale's laminations and fissility.

muscovite

muskovit

Transparent or white mica
that lacks iron and magnesium. Properties see micas.

nacreous luster

perle?ový lesk

See pearly luster.

natural glass

vulkanické sklo

Amorphous form of silica
formed by very fast cooling of lava.

nematoblastic texture

nematoblastická struktura

Metamorphic texture formed
mostly of columnar or spicular minerals.

Neogene

neogenní

Younger epoch of Tertiary
period (from 1.8 to 25 mil. of years ago).

oblique-slip fault

A fault with both
strike-slip and dip-slip components.

obsidian

obsidian

Volcanic glass black in
colour with typical conchoidal fracture.

oceanic crust

oceánská kura

The thin, basaltic crust
under oceans.

oceanic trench

hlubokomooský poíkop

A narrow, deep through
parallel to the edge of a continent or an island arc.

olivine

olivín

A ferromagnesian mineral
with the formula (Fe, Mg)2SiO4. Yellowish green to green
in colour, conchoidal fracture but not obvious cleavage,
with vitreous luster. Hardness is 6.5 to 7. Most olivine
occurs in a form of accumulations of small crystals in
dark-coloured igneous rocks (e.g. basalt).

oolitic limestone

oolitický vápenec

A limestone formed from a
small spheres of calcite precipitated from seawater.

open fold

otevoená vrása

A fold with gently dipping
limbs (angle between limbs 70-120).

orbicular structure

kulovitá textura

Special type of structure
of plutonic rocks where feldspars are in concentric
arrangement.

Ordovician

ordovický

Period in lower Paleozoic
(from 435 to 500 mil. of years ago).

ore

ruda

Naturally occuring
material that can be profitably mined.

organic sedimentary rocks

organogenní
sedimentární horniny

Rocks composed mostly of
the remains of plants and animals.

organic sediments

organogenní sediment

Sediments composed mostly
of the remains of plants and animals.

orogeny

orogen

An episode of intense
deformation of the rocks in a region, generally
accompanied by metamorphism and plutonic activity.

orthoclase

ortoklas

A potassium feldspar with
the formula KAlSi3O8. Properties see feldspars.

orthogneiss

ortorula

Type of gneiss formed from
igneous rocks.

outcrop

výchoz

A surface exposure of bare
rock, not covered by soil or vegetation.

outer core

vnijší jádro

A thick shell of rock
between inner core and lower mantle.

overturned fold

poekocená vrása

A fold in which both limbs
dip approximatelly in the same direction.

oxbow lake

slepé rameno

A crescent-shaped lake
occupying the abandoned channel of a stream meander that
is isolated from the present channel by a meander cutoff
and sedimentation.

P-waves

p-vlny

Compressional waves
(seismic waves) in which rock vibrates parallel to the
direction of wave propagation.

Paleogene

paleogen

Older epoch of Tertiary
period (from 23.7 to 66.4 mil. of years ago).

Paleozoic

paleozoikum

Geological era that
followed the Precambrian and during which began with the
appearance of complex life, as indicated by fossils (from
245 to 570 mil. of years ago).

paragneiss

pararula

Type of gneiss formed from
sedimentary rocks.

parent rock

mateená hornina

Original rock before being
metamorphosed.

pearly luster

perle?ový lesk

A luster that gives a
substance pearly appearance.

pebble

oblázek

A sediment particle with a
diameter of 2 to 64 mm.

pegmatite

pegmatit

Extremely coarse-grained
igneous rock formed mainly of feldspars and quartz
together with micas and other minerals. It has zonal
structure. In czech classification it belongs to dike
rocks, in english classification to plutonic rocks.

pelagic sediment

pelagické sediment

Sediment made up of
fine-grained clay and skeletons of microscopic organisms
that settle slowly down through the ocean water to the
sea bottom.

pelites

pelity

Within the clastic
subgroup of sediments and sedimentary rocks the most
fine-grained category (<0.002 mm).

pencil structure

stébelnatá textura

Rare type of structure of
metamorphic rocks characterized by mineral grains which
are extremly elongated along one axis and arranged in
linear parallel structure.

perlite

perlit

Type of volcanic glass. It
seems to be composed of many small particles
"pearls".

permeability

permeabilita

The capacity of a rock to
transmit a fluids (liquids or gases).

Permian

perm

The youngest period of
Paleozoic (from 245 to 286 mil. of years ago).

phaneritic

faneritický

A textural term applied to
igneous rocks in which all the crystals of the essential
minerals can be distinguished with the unaided eye. The
adjective form phaneritic is currently used more
frequently than the noun.

A theory that the earth's
surface is divided into a few large, thick plates that
are slowly moving and changing in size. Intense geologic
activity occurs at the plate boundaries.

plateau

náhorní rovina

Broad, flat-topped area
elevated above the surrounding land and bounded, at least
in part, by cliffs.

plunging fold

vrása

A fold in which the hinge
line (or axis) is not horizontal.

pluton

pluton

An igneous body that
crystallized deep underground.

plutonic rocks

hlubinné horniny

Igneous rocks formed at
great depth.

polar wandering

migrace pólu

An apparent movement of
the earth's poles.

polymict

polymiktni(valouny více
druhu)

Within psefitic sediments
or sedimentary rocks, term describing composition of many
types of fragments.

porcelanite

porcelanit

Metamorphic rock with
typical conchoidal fracture and sharp edges which was
formed by contact metamorphism of pelitic sediments.

pore space

intergranulární prostor

The total amount of space
taken up by openings between sediment grains.

porosity

pórosita

The percentage of a rock's
volume that is taken up by openings.

porous structure

pórovitá textura

Structure of a rock where
part of rock volume is taken up by openings.

porphyritic texture

porfyrická struktura

Texture of those igneous
rocks in which larger crystals (phenocrysts) are set in a
finer groundmass which may be crystalline or glassy, or
both.

porphyroblastic texture

porfyroblastická
struktura

Texture of metamorphic
rocks very similar to porphyritic texture of igneous
rocks (groundmass cannot be glassy).

potassium feldspar

draselný ?ivec

A feldspar with the
formula KAlSi3O8.

Precambrian time

prekambrium

The vast amount of time
that preceded the Paleozoic Era (before 570 mil. of
years).

psammites

psamity

Clastic sediments or
sedimentary rocks with sizes of particles between 0.06
and 2 mm.

psefites

psefity

Clastic sediments or
sedimentary rocks with size of particles over 2 mm.

pyrite

pyrit

Mineral with formula FeS2
with "gold" appearance. It is sometimes present
as accessory mineral in igneous rocks.

pyroclastic rocks

pyroklastika

Rocks formed by
lithification of pyroclasts.

pyroclasts

pyroklastika

Fragments of rocks formed
by volcanic explosion.

pyroxene

pyroxen

Ferromagnesian mafic
mineral which belongs to silicates. Black to dark-green
in colour, vitreous to dull luster. Hardness is from 5 to
6. It has two imperfect cleavages meet at nearly 90
degrees (it is not often macroscopically visible). Shape
is usually short columnar.

quarry

lom

An open or surface
working, usually for the extraction of building stone, as
slate, limestone, etc. In its widest sense the term mines
includes quarries, and has been sometimes so construed by
the courts; but when the distinction is drawn, mine
denotes underground workings and quarry denotes
superficial workings.

quartz

koemen

Mineral with the formula
SiO2. In the nature it occurs in many different colours,
but as a rock forming mineral it is usually light grey or
grey in colour. Hardness is 7, usually forms
allotriomorphic grains.They are macroscopically
recognizable from feldspars by fracture planes with
vitreous luster (no cleavage planes).

A quartz rock derived from
sandstone, composed dominantly of quartz, and
characterized by such thorough induration, either through
cementation with silica or through recrystallization,
that it is essentially homogeneous and breaks with
vitreous surfaces that transect original grains and
matrix or interstitial material with approximatelly equal
ease.

Quaternary

kvartér

The youngest geological
period; includes the present time (from 1.8 mil. of years
ago to present).

receding glacier

ustupující ledovec
(zmenšující se)

A glacier with a negative
budget, which causes the glacier to grow smaller as its
edges melt back.

Recent

recentní (soueasný)

Formed in the present
time.

recumbent fold

le?atá vrása

A fold overturned to such
an extent that the limbs are essentially horizontal.

regional metamorphic rocks

regionálni metamorfované
horniny

Type of metamorphic rocks
formed by the proces of regional metamorphism.

regional metamorphism

regionální metamorfóza

Metamorphism involving
relatively high temperature and pressure which affects
large areas.

recharge

The addition of new water
to an aquifer or to the zone of saturation.

residual rocks

reziduální horniny

Remaining part of parent
rock after weathering which was not transported. It is
often fragmented and caving.

resinous luster

smolný lesk

See pitch luster.

reverse fault

poesmyk

A fault in which the
hanging-wall block moved up relative to the footwall
block.

rhyolite

ryolit

A fine-grained, felsic,
volcanic igneous rock made up mostly of feldspar and
quartz. Often with porous and fluidal structure.

rift valley

riftové údolí

A tensional valley bounded
by normal faults. Rift valleys are found at diverging
plate boundaries on continents and along the crest of the
mid-oceanic ridge.

rigid zone

Upper part of a glacier in
which there is no plastic flow.

Richter scale

Richterova stupnice

A numerical scale of
earthquake magnitudes.

ripple marks

eeoiny

Small ridges formed on
sediment surfaces exposed to moving wind or water. The
ridges form perpendicularly to the motion.

rock

hornina

Rock is inhomogeneous
mineral association which forms the earth's crust in a
form of many separated units. Every rock is characterized
by structure, texture and mineral coposition reflecting
its origin.

rock avalanche

A very rapidly moving,
turbulent mass of broken-up bedrock.

rock forming minerals

horninotvorne mineraly

Group of minerals that
form greatest part of rock volume.

rock strength

pevnost horniny

Ability of rock to resist
to surrounding pressure.

rockfall

skalní oícení

Rock falling freely or
bouncing down a cliff.

rounding

zaoblení

The grinding away of sharp
edges and corners of rock fragments during
transportation.

rupture

koehká deformace

Brittle deformation of
rock.

S-waves

S-vlny

A seismic waves propagated
by a shearing motion, which causes rock to vibrate
perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.

sand

písek

Sediment composed of
particles with a diameter between 2 mm and 0.06 mm.

sand dune

píseené duny

A mound of loose sand
grains heaped up by the wind.

sandstone

piskovec

A medium-grained
sedimentary rock (grains between 2 mm and 0.06 mm) formed
by the cementation of sand grains (mainly quartz).

saturated zone

nasycená zóna

A subsurface zone in which
all rock openings are filled with water.

scaled shape

šupinkovity

Sheet-like mineral shape
(e.g. micas).

sea-floor spreading

The concept that the ocean
floor is moving away from the mid-oceanic ridge and
across the deep ocean basin, to disappear beneath
continents and island arcs.

sediment

nezpevniná usazená
hornina

Loose, solid particles
that can originate by (1) weathering and erosion of
preexisting rocks, (2) chemical precipitation from
solution, usually in water, and (3) secretion by
organisms.

sedimentary environment

sedimentaení prostoedí

Area with specific
conditions for deposition which are approximatelly the
same on every place within the area.

sedimentary rocks

zepvniné usazené horniny

Rock that has formed from
(1) lithification of any type of sediment, (2)
precipitation from solution

sedimentation

sedimentace

See deposition.

seismic waves

seismické vlny

A wave of energy produced
by an earthquake.

seismogram

seismogram

Paper record of earth
vibration.

seismograph

seismograf

A seismometer with a
recording device that produces a permanent record of
earth motion.

sericite

sericit

Very fine-grained variety
of muscovite. Mineral grains are usually not visible. The
presence of sericite in a rock can be easily identified
by typical silk luster. It is mineral typical for
metamorphic rocks. Properties see micas.

serpentine

serpentin

Mineral typical for
metamorphic rocks. Very dark green to black in colour,
hardness varies from 3 to 5. Luster is dull to greasy,
slight greasy feel. It forms very fine-grained
(macroscopically massive) accumulations.

serpentinite

serpentinit

Type of metamorphic rock
composed mostly of mineral serpentine. It is usually dark
green to green-black in colour, massive and
macroscopically dense. Joints of this rock are usually
filled with chrysotile (asbestos).

shale

boidlice

A fine-grained sedimentary
rock (grains finer than 0.06 mm in diameter) formed by
the cementation of silt and clay (mud). Shale has thin
layers (laminations) and an ability to split (fissility)
into small chips.

shear force

The component of
gravitational force that is parallel to an inclined
surface.

shear strength

smyková pevnost

The resistance to movement
or deformation of material.

shear stress

smykové napití

Stress due to forces that
tend to cause movement or strain parallel to the
direction of the forces.

sheet joints

Cracks that develop
parallel to the outer surface of a large mass of
expanding rock, as pressure is released during unloading.

shelf

šelf

Zone of sea bottom along
all continents with varying width and dip 0.1%. It is
bordered from one side by continental slope and from
other side by continent.

shock metamorphism

šoková metamorfóza

The fastest type of
metamorphism affecting surrounding rocks usually in
tenths of second.

shrinking

smrš?ování

Decreasing of mineral and
rock volumes caused by lowering of moisture.

Sediment composed of
particles with a diameter of 0.002 mm to 0.06 mm.

siltstone

prachovec

A sedimentary rock
consisting mostly of silt grains.

Silurian

silur

Geological period of
Paleozoic between 408 ad 438 mil. of years ago.

sinkhole

závrt

A closed depresion found
on land surfaces underlain by limestone.

sinter

sintr

A deposit of silica that
forms around some hot springs and geysers.

slate

boidlice

A fine-grained rock that
splits easily along flat, parallel planes.

slide

sesuv

In mass wasting, movement
of a descending mass along a plane approximatelly
parallel to the slope of the surface (see landslide).

slip

sesuv

In mass wasting, movement
of a descending mass along one or more well-defined
surfaces (see landslide).

slope angle

úhel sklonu svahu

Dip angle of a slope.

slump

sesuv

In mass wasting, movement
along a curved surface in which the upper part moves
vertically downward while the lower part moves outward
(see landslide).

snow line

sni?ná eára

An irregular line making
the highest level to which the winter snow cover on a
glacier is lost during a melt season.

soil

(1) puda, (2) zemina

(1) A layer of weathered,
unconsolidated material on the top of bedrock; often also
defined as containing organic matter and being capable of
supporting plant growth. (2) Geotechnical term for
sediments, caving residual and volcanoclastic rocks.

soil moisture

vlhkost zeminy

Term expressing amount of
water in soil by ratio between weight of water in a soil
sample and weight of dry soil sample.

solifluction

soliflukce

Flow of water-saturated
debris over impermeable material.

sorting

toídiní

Process of selection and
separation of sediment grains according to their grain
size (or grain shape or specific gravity).

specific gravity

specifická hmotnost

The ratio of the mass of
an equal volume of water, determined at a specified
temperature.

spring

pramen

A place where water flows
naturally out of rock onto the land surface.

stalactite

stalaktit

Iciclelike pendant of
dripstone formed on cave ceilings.

stalagmite

stalagmit

Cone-shaped mass of
dripstone formed on cave floors, generally directly below
a stalactite.

state of crystallization

stupen krystalizace

staurolite

staurolit

Typical mineral of
metamorphic rocks famous for its twinned crystals that
form into the shape of a cross (or into the shape of the
letter "X"). Shape of a crystals is columnar.
Color is reddish-brown, brown, or black. Hardness is
7-7.5. Luster is vitreous to resinous to dull. Cleavage
poor, in one direction. Fracture is uneven to conchoidal.

stock

peo

A small discordant pluton
with an outcropping area of less than 100 square
kilometers.

strain

deformace

Change in size (volume) or
shape of a body (or rock unit) in response to stress.

streak

vryp

Color of pulverized
substance; a useful property for mineral identification.

stream gradient

Downhill slope of a
stream's bed or the water surface, if the stream is very
large.

stream piracy

The natural diversion of
the headwaters of one stream into the channel of another.

stream terraces

oíení terasy

Steplike landformes found
above a stream and their flood plains.

stress

tlak

A force acting on a body,
or rock unit, that tends to change the size or shape of
that body, or rock unit. Force per unit area within a
body.

The compass direction of a
line formed by the intersection of an inclined plane
(such as a bedding plane) with a horizontal plane.

strike-slip fault

horizontální posun

A fault in which movement
is parallel to the strike of the fault surface.

structural geology

strukturní geologie

The branch of geology
concerned with the internal structure of bedrock and the
shapes, arrangement, and interrelationships of rock
units.

structure

textura

Macroscopically
distinguishable arrangement of mineral grains in a rock.

subduction zone

subdukení zóna

Mostly macroscopically
distinguishable arrangement of mineral grains in a rock.

submarine canyon

podmooský kaoon

V-shaped valley that run
across the continental shelf and down the continental
slope.

superposition

superpozice

A principle or law stating
that within a sequence of undisturbed sedimentary rocks,
the oldest layers are on the bottom, the youngest on the
top.

surface waves

povrchové vlny

A seismic waves that
travel on the earth's surface.

swelling

bobtnání

Increasing of mineral and
rock volumes caused bz raising of moisture.

syenite

syenit

A plutonic igneous rock
consisting principally of alkali feldspar, usually with
one or more mafic minerals such as hornblende or biotite.
A small amount of plagioclase may be present. Also of
quartz if less than 5%. Quartz-free granite. Name from
Syene (Aswan), where it was later renamed "Aswan red
granite".

syncline

synklinála

A fold in which the
layered rock usually dips toward an axis.

tabular shape

tabulkovitý tvar

Table-like shape of
minerals in a rock (e.g. feldspars). Two of three
crystallographic axes are elongated, one is short.A fold
in which the layered rock usually dips toward an axis.

talc

mastek

The softest mineral formed
by metamorphic processes. It is the first member of Moh's
scale.

tectonic forces

tektonické síly

Forces generated from
within the earth that result in uplift, movement, or
deformation of part of the earth's crust.

tension fault

tahový zlom

Fault in the earth's crust
created by tensional forces.

tensional stress

tahové napití

A force that tends to
elongate or pull apart a body.

terminus

eelo ledovce

The lower edge of a
glacier.

terrigenous sediment

suchozemský sediment

Land-derived sediment that
has found its way to the sea floor.

Tertiary

toetihory

Older period of Cenozoic
(from 1.6 to 66.4 mil. of years ago).

texture

struktura

Macroscopically and
microscopically distinguishable characteristics (size of
particles, shape of particles, state of crystallization)
of a rock.

thrust fault

nasunutí

A reverse fault in which
the dip of the fault plane is at a low angle to
horizontal.

till

till

Unsorted and unlayered
rock debris carried by a glacier.

tillite

tilit

Lithified till.

tourmaline

turmalín

Black, pink, blue, green
or brown mineral with vitreous luster. Hardness is from 7
to 7.5. It forms slender crystals with triangular
cross-sections and striated sides.